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Articles for Plants given by NR Adhikari

The blog of 'plant feeds us' includes articles about a variety of plant species useful for us. The articles have been prepared by N R Adhikari, Plant Breeding Department, Graduate Program Incharge, Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (IAAS) of Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal.

sowing seeds

I welcome you all on the page of the sowing seeds. I tried to put some information about sowing seeds of some vegetable crops onto the page of the sowing seeds. Sowing seeds of some crop species is included on the page of the related crops of growing series. 

Farmers can start growing vegetables from sowing seeds either in a kitchen gardens or a large commercial vegetable garden. For sowing seeds, they must plough / plow field to make fine tilth. Sowing seeds are done mainly by two methods: The direct method of sowing seeds is that in which farmers start growing vegetables sowing seeds directly in a field and growing the crop in the same field to take the final harvest. Another is indirect method in which gardening is started sowing seeds in a raised seed bed and transferring the healthy seedlings to the final production field to take final harvest. See a listing of some crops with their sowing seed methods.

Crops Method of sowing seeds

Sowing seeds in a seed bed and transferred Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris): Sowing seeds directly in the field Beet (Beta vulgaris): Sowing seeds directly in the field Cabbage (Brassica oleracea): Sowing seeds) in a seed bed and transferred Carrot (Daucus carota): Sowing seeds directly in the field Corn (Zea mays): Sowing seeds directly in the field Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) Sowing seeds in a seed bed and transferred Egg plant (Solanum melongena) Sowing seeds in a seed bed and transferred Lettuce (Lactuca sativa): Sowing seeds directly in the field Lima bean (Phaseolus limensis): Sowing seeds directly in the field Melon (Cucumis melo): Sowing seeds directly in the field Onion (Allium cepa) Sowing seeds in a seed bed and transferred Pea (Pisum sativum): Sowing seeds directly in the field Pepper (Capsicum annuum) Sowing seeds in a seed bed and transferred Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) Sowing seeds in a seed bed and transferred Soybean (Glycine max): Sowing seeds directly in the field Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) Sowing seeds in a seed bed and transferred

In indirect method of sowing seeds, seedlings are transferred when they are 20 to 30 days old. In the duration, if the seeds were sown in large field, much expensive can be operation of the weeds removal. But in seed bed, removal of the weeds will be cheaper. And only healthy seedlings are transplanted in the production plot in the indirect method of sowing seeds.

Indirect method of sowing seeds: Sowing seeds densely is not good to get healthy seedlings. Don't apply undecomposed compost to the seed bed while its preparation, otherwise ants will damage the seeds. Vermicompost or well-decomposed compost is good to apply for the seed bed preparation. Sow seeds in rows. After sowing a thin layer of fine soil is covered in a simple method. The thickness of the soils cover above the seed depends on the seed size. Larger the seed size, higher the strength the seedlings to exert and remove the upper most soil cover. So think on the matter. Broccoli seeds should be covered with thin (not more than 1-cm thick) layer of soils. But corn or bean seed can be covered with two to ten centimeter cover soils. After sowing seeds in the seed bed, fine spray of water should be given lightly to wet the seeds and moisturize the 10-cm deep soil if it is seed bed. Irrigation in the seed bed after sowing seeds varies from crop to crop and soil texture to texture. Seed bed should not be far from the production field. Sowing seeds can also be done in polythene bags, then there will be minimum transplantation injury while transplanting from the polythene bags to the production field.

Some instructions are also written in the seed packet for sowing seeds. So read them carefully. You can ask agricultural extension officer too to know the details if you have any doubts.

Sowing seeds in rows is better than sowing seeds randomly. Even in the single row, spacing is required in addition to the spacing between rows. Row spacing and seed spacing are also dependent to the crop species and age of the seedlings you are going to transplant.

How do you uproot the seedlings? First your transplantation field should be very ready for the transplant. Secondly; one week before the uprooting of the seedlings, the seed bed should be made drier stopping the irrigation to harden the seedlings. About half an hour earlier of uprooting the vegetable or any crop seedlings, the seed bed should be irrigated. If you can uproot the seedlings with some soils, it damages less to the seedlings while handling and transplanting the seedlings. For it, you use a spoon. The size of the spoon depends on the root size of the seedlings which also depends on the crop species and age of the seedlings. Don't delay to transplant the seedlings. Delaying the transplantation ultimately lowers the yield of the vegetable or crops make the vegetable plants weak and susceptible.

Direct method of sowing seeds: The seed of the crop species which ought to be sown on a seed bed is if sown in large production field, it is very difficult to care the seedlings in the large field. For sowing seeds of such crop, fine tilth field is required. Uprooting and transplantation shocks will make the seedlings susceptible to the pathogen attack and lead finally less production of the crop.

In essence; growing greens, or growing vegetables or growing green leafy vegetables is not difficult. Just plough the plot, make fine tilth, sow the seeds, cover the seeds with thin layer of soils, and irrigate the soils with fine and gentle spray of water. Then wait the seedlings to emerge. See watching the plot. Don't let the plot dry. If it is becoming dry, irrigate the plot with suitable available method.

Sowing seeds

Sowing seeds of some vegetable crops are mentioned here. And sowing seeds of different crops are mentioned in the other pages in the website. For example, sowing seeds of broccoli is mentioned in the web page of growing broccoli. Please search the method of sowing seeds through individual crop. Sowing seeds of carrots: Sowing seeds of carrots by direct method is better than the indirect method. Sowing seeds on a nursery bed and transferring them to the production field do not yield quality shape of the carrots roots. Seedling thinning is practiced if sowing seeds is done directly in the production field. The sowing seeds of the carrot and thinning should be done in such as way that the plants of the carrot should be 2 cm apart at least in a row. 

Sowing seeds of the carrot is done shallowly or 1 cm to 1.5 cm deep.

Sowing seeds of radish (Raphanus sativus L.): The distance between rows of about 2 feet is optimum for sowing seeds of radish. Sowing seeds of radish is done in a finely ploughed field. Sowing seeds is practiced in flat or raised beds.

Sowing seeds of sweet potato: Sowing seeds of sweet potato is done at flat beds. But sowing seeds is practiced in the raised bed if there is not ample drainage facility in the production field. Sowing seeds of sweet potato is meant for sowing sprouts of sweet potato. The sweet potato slips form in tuberous roots of the sweet potato. Professional growers produce the sweet potato slips sprouts to sell the home gardeners the sweet potato planting materials. Row to row distance is about 1.5 inches for sowing seeds (slips) of the sweet potato.

Sowing seeds of onion: Sowing seeds of onion is done directly in the onion production field of raising seedlings in a nursery bed and transferring to the production field.  Sowing seeds of onion is done in the production field such a way that one meter row should have 20 to 30 plants. The row to row distance is about 50 cm. Home growers also practice sowing the dry sets (bulbs) of onion for leaf as well bulb production. Sowing bulbs yield onion harvest higher and earlier crop. Sowing seeds is generally practiced producing seedlings than transplanting to the large production field.

Sowing seeds of cucumber.: Sowing seeds of cucumber is done by seeds. Sowing seeds of cucumber is done at 2 to 3 feet apart in a single row and rows are spaced 6 feet apart. Some cucumbers are vine and some are bushy. Early maturing bush cucumber produce cucumber fruits in 60 days. Cucumber vines are supported in trail on the ground or trellies or pole or fence. The cucumber plant produces male (staminate) flower as well as female (pistillate) flowers. So the cucumber plant is called monoecious. First few flowers tend to be male. Nowadays in the USA and European countries the commercial breeding institutes have developed gynoecious commercial hybrid varieties of the cucumber. The parthenocarpic hybrid varieties of the cucumber are generally produced in greenhouses.

Sowing seeds of watermelon.: Sowing seeds of watermelon is done in rows. The rows are kept about 8 feet apart. About 3 feet is maintained between the plants of the watermelon. Four seeds of the watermelon is sown per hill and only two seedlings are maintained per hill after germination.

Sowing seeds of muskmelon.: The plant species is sown by direct sowing in the production field. Sowing seeds of the muskmelon is done at 2.5 feet apart between the plants and 5 feet apart between the rows.

Sowing seeds of squash: (Curcubita spp. L.) Sowing seeds of squash is done by sowing seeds directly in the production field. The practice of sowing seeds of squash is done sowing seeds 3 feet apart between plants and 10 feet between the rows. Sowing seeds of squash is done maintaining the distance of 3 x 12 feet for summer squash and 2 x 6 feet for winter squash cultivars.

Flax: Linum usitatissimum: Flax seed is a brain food: Flaxseed oil

It is the page of the Flax: Linum usitatissimum: Flax seed is a brain food: Flaxseed Group: Flaxseed Forum: Flaxseed oil: Linseed oil. I welcome you at the page of the Flax: Linum usitatissimum: Flaxseed is a brain food: Flaxseed Group: Flaxseed Forum: Flax seed oil: Linseed oil.

I and guests can exchange ideas, experiences, and information in the Flax: Linum usitatissimum: Flaxseed is a brain food: Flaxseed Group: Flaxseed Forum: Flaxseed oil: Linseed oil. I welcome valuable experiences in the comment box. I first want to introduce some health related beneficial facts  of the Flax: Linum usitatissimum: Flaxseed is a brain food: Flaxseed Group: Flaxseed Forum: Flaxseed oil: Linseed oil.

Flax seed is brain food for all age people since the principal constituents of the flax seed: polyunsaturated omega 3 alpha linolenic acid and omega 6 linoleic fatty acids which are  the principal fuel for the significant normal brain function and brain development.

Flaxseed is Linum usitatissimum

The name of the plant species of flaxseed is Linum usitatissium which is under the plant family of Linaceae. It is annual crop grown in winter in subtropical region in the globe. But some varieties have been developed for growing in the temperate countries like USA and Canada. It is short duration crop. Its flower is blue. The color of the flax seed varies from dark brown to yellow. The color of the flax seed varies from cultivar to cultivar. The next name of the flax seed is linseed.

Composition of the Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum)

The principal constituents of the flax seed (brown flax seed) is fat (40%), protein (20%), total dietary fiber (28%), mosture (7.5%)  and  ash (3.5%). The principal constituents of the ash are minerals. Potassium and magnesium is very high in comparison to the sodium content in the flax seed. Calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium are the major minerals whereas copper, iron, manganese, sodium and zinc and selenium are minor minerals in the flax seed.

The flax seed is popular for its high content of polyunsaturated omega 3 fatty acid ( 56% of total fatty acids) and low content of polyunsaturated omega 6 fatty acid (15% of total fatty acids). Furthermore, the flax seed is reknown for its undigestible dietary and functional fibers. Besides the flaxseed is becoming popular for high phenolics too. Here, flax seed phenolics is meant for phenolic acids, flavonoids and lignans.

In addition to the above very beneficial nutrients the flax seed; it also contains vitamin E : tocopherol. There are three types of tocopherol in the flax seed. they are alpha tocopherol, delta tocopherol and gamma tocopherol. The gamma tocopherol is 552 mg per kilogram of flax seed which is 78 times more than alpha tocopherol and 55 times more than delta tocopherol.

Thank you very much for the visit at the page "Flax seed: Linum usitatissimum: Flaxseed is a brain food: Flaxseed Group: Flaxseed Forum: Flaxseed oil: Linseed oil."

best foods

This is the page of the “best food group or best food forum or best food discussion group”. You are welcome at the page of the “best food group or best food forum or best food discussion group”.

Which is the best food? Some say rice is the best food. About half of the population of the world are dependent on rice grain for energy. Principal constituent of rice is carbohydrate which is the principal source of energy of the most of the Asian people. It contains about 5% protein.


The rice satisfies our hunger very efficiently as well as it is bulky to our intestine too which eliminates air from our alimentary canal. Its intake also makes us feel we are satisfied since it fills every corner of our stomach very efficiently. So people say rice is the best food in the world. Some say brown rice is the best food. Some say white rice is the best food.

For me, rice with pulse and green vegetable is the best food meal. It is because I have eaten the meal since I was young.  I am habituated in the meal. So the rice is the best food. After long duration traveling, I extremely desire to take rice with pulse and cooked vegetables or leafy vegetables. When I complete taking the meal, I feel extreme satisfaction. So, I say rice is the best food.

Japanese people too like rice. So I say rice is the best food for Japanese people. Majority Japanese people like rice very much. They eat rice in the time of breakfast, lunch and dinner. They say breakfast "Asa Gohan". In Japanese language, 'Asa' is meant for 'morning' and Gohan is meant for cooked rice grains which is prepared cooking rice grains with water in rice cooker. Sometimes in party, they take Japanese drink with rice ball after the rice grains are cooked. Generally, rice is eaten at least three times in a day in Japan.  So I say rice is the best food in Japan.

They make Sweets which they call "Okhasi" in their language as the Japanese sweets. Japanese sweets are generally made from the cooked rice grains. Japanese traditional alcoholic drinks are also made from the rice grains. They call the alcoholic drink 'Sake' or 'Osake'. Osake is made from central region of the rice grains.  So rice is a versatile and best food item in Japan.

Majority of Japanese farmers generally prefer growing rice in their farms although growing other crops  such as strawberry are more profitable than growing rice. For example; growing strawberry in their field gives more returns than  the returns from the rice crop. It is traditional way of livelihood which majority of Japanese farmers do not want to stop. Although Japan is the most industrial country in the world, most of the farmers like to grow traditional crop: rice in their farms in Japan. From these views, I like to say that rice is the best food in Japan.

Japanese scientists have been vigorously  working in many different fields of the rice crop science than any other country crop scientists in the world. They have allocated more funds in the rice research than any other crop. So, I say rice is the best food crop in Japan.

In Indonesia, rice crop is the principle crop of farming system of the country. Although farmers know shrimp cultivation can give them three times more return than rice crop, the majority of Indonesian farmers could not stop growing rice to raise shrimp in their farmland.If they leave cultivating rice in their farmland, then Indonesia has to import rice grain in high price to feed its people since rice is the principal staple food of Indonesia. So, I can write here rice is the best food in Indonesia.

Let us discuss about some other foods too. Some say Chapati made from wheat flour is the best food. Some say bread made from wheat flour is the best food in the world. They say that the Chapati made from wheat flour is full of fiber, rich in calories and body building molecules "protein." So they say Chapati is one of the best foods.

I furthermore admire the beauty of the Chapati made from bread wheat. Its intake in the meal slowly releases calories to  our blood, brain and body. Sudden glucose swing from the meal is not good, but slow and steady glucose level in the blood from the intake of the meal of the Chapati forces me to say that Chapati made from wheat flour is one of the best foods in India.


The wheat flour has some more variety of proteins than rice and it constitutes about 10% protein quantity in contrast to the 5% protein of the rice grains. Thus protein content of wheat flour is two times more than rice protein amount. Some say fried rice is the best food in the world. The wheat flour is cheaper but of higher quality than rice. Generally, people in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh eat the Chapati. So, they say Chapati is the best food in South Asia.


Some say bread made from whole wheat flour is the best food. There are a variety of breads. Sliced bread is  one of the most popular food items among most of European and North American people. Some like biscuits. Some say pancake made from wheat flour is the best food. Some say pizza which is made from the wheat flour is the best food.

Some say milk is the best food in the world with respect to the availability of minerals, calories, protein and vitamins. Some people think it is complete food. But, I don't think it is complete food. Taking milk alone we cannot be comfortable since it is rich in saturated fats. The saturated fats present in the milk are not so good, but the plant origin unsaturated oils is much healthier.

And the carbohydrate in the form of lactose in the milk is not enough to fulfill the calorie requirement of the adult people. Brain requires unsaturated fats for its development as well as functioning. So, I say the milk is not the complete diet and it is not best food in the world. Now, health conscious people in Finland started talking with a slogan, "Leave Diary, Start Berry."

Some say pulse soup is the best food. Mungbean is rich in carbohydrates and protein. But; still, mungbean is popular in protein content. It contains protein which is about four times more than the protein amount of rice and two times more than that of protein content of wheat flour. In other words, the mungbean contains about 20% protein. There is a variety of the mungbean. One of its kinds is green mungbean.

The soup made from half cut husk rich mungbean is recommended to healthy to sick people, from babies to old age people. Typhoid patients can drink the green mungbean soup very safely. The intake of the mungbean soup does not cause flatulence. Soup made from the green mungbean is the best food with respect to absence of saturated fats. That is why mungbean is said as one of the best foods.


Some say maize chapatti is the best food. When I was very young, it is about 4 to 7 years; my grandmother used to make thick Chapati from corn flour on a iron pan with simmering flame of firewood. Then she used to feed me. I remember that she wanted to include diversified food items to make us satisfied. The fresh meal kinds made from corn flour is rich in carbohydrates, protein and fats. The corn is packed with enough energy and brain food nutrients. I think foods made from the corn are some of the best foods.


Some say fish is the best food. Some say chicken is the best food. Some say chevon is the best food in the world. Some say meat of ostrich is the best food in the world. Some say beef is the best food in the world.

Some say Momo “love ball” is the best food in the world. Some say green vegetables such as asparagus, broccoli, and tomato are the best food. Some say onion and garlic mixed vegetable dish are the best foods in the world.

Some say fish is the another best food item.  Some people consider filter coffee is the best food between the two drinks: green tea and coffee. Some say green tea is the best drink. Some say coffee is the best food. Green tea is recommended to the hypertensive people, but coffee is recommended to hypotensive people. I too think in this way. Some say Matcha is the best food. Please remember Matcha is a special preparation of the green tea which I also think as the best food if we compare it with coffee, coca, coffee, ordinary tea and green tea.

Fruits like mango, black grapes, and apple are also some of the best foods. Berries such as acai berry are some of the best foods. Some people are allergic to some fruits. Asthmatic patients should avoid banana. But, banana is one of the best foods for majority of people in tropical and subtropical countries.

Most of the children in the world like chocolate. When they are asked, "What is the best food?" They mostly answer,  "Chocolate is the best food. " Mostly chocolate is made mixing cocoa, sugar, milk ingredients. Food rich in sugar is not so good for the teeth health. I also advice to the children of the world, "Please don't take chocolate."  Accordingly, I too state chocolate is not the best food.

By the way, cocoa is brain food. So, it is considered one of the best food items. But cocoa formulated in the form of chocolate is not so good. If cocoa is formulated with dairy product such as butter or milk and sugar is not best absorbed through the human intestine of ours. So, it is not considered the best food.

Dairy fat is saturated animal fat, so its continuous intake is not so good to the body of all age people. Sugar like sweetening substance is not so beneficial to teeth health, diabetic and hypertensive people. The cocoa with soybean milk and stevia sweetening substance is best recommended one of the best foods in the world.

Some people like alcoholic drinks. So they say alcoholic drinks are some of the best foods. Some like non-alcoholic drinks.  So they say non alcoholic drink such as lemonade, coconut water are some of the best foods. Some say brandy is the best food. Some say whiskey is the best food. Some say wine is one of the best foods.  Some say orange fruit juice is the best food. Some say grape juice is the best food. Best food varies from person to person and state to state.


Some say Lassi drink is one of the best foods. By the way, Lassi is made from yoghurt mixing with small cardamon powder, rose water, ice, and sugar. It is generally drunken in hot summer days in India. Majority people feel special satisfaction drinking Lassi in summer days. So, I too say Lassi is one of the best food substance in hot days in tropical climatic countries.

Every country and continent people have their own staple food. People in high altitude Himalaya do have potato as the staple food. Low mountain people in Nepal have maize as the best food.

Thank you very much for the visit to the page of the "Best food group: Best food forum: Best food discussion group forum."